CVNE, Contino Reserva, Rioja 2020

The 2020 Reserva was produced with grapes from different plots on the property that were picked early and, between that and the higher yields of the year, resulted in a wine with 13.77% alcohol, quite low for a very warm year. It is composed of 86% Tempranillo, 6% each Mazuelo and Graciano and 2% Garnacha. It fermented by plot in stainless steel and concrete vats and matured for 18 months in oak barrels, mostly French but with 5% of them American. It feels fresh and harmonious, with some developed aromas, a minty touch of freshness and a medium to full-bodied palate that calls for food. It has depth and precision and is hedonistic, a notch above the 2019 despite the challenges of the year. A triumph over the vintage. 298,648 bottles and 5,000 magnums produced. It was bottled in May 2023.

• Drinking Window: 2024 - 2030
• Reviewer Name: Luis Gutierrez
• Review Date: February 2024